Animal Song

""Alligator, Hedgehog, Anteater, Bear, Billy Goat, Brown Cow, Damselfly, Hare,'' implores the crow as he invites most of the animal kingdom to join him in a revelry of singing, dancing and picnicking. Adapted from a collection of songs from Southern Michigan, this book has a folksy feel that is accentuated by the strong primitive style of Sewall's illustrations. The story builds dramatically as the animals are called one by one until the madly dancing throng collapses into a heap of stupendous proportion. The bold illustrations have flat expanses of muted color, heavily outlined in black. The combination of diverse sounds, sprinkled with alliteration, make this a book to enjoy reading aloud for a rich combination of sight and sound. Ages 3-6. (April)